Force feed mechanical lubricator



'Nov zs, 1933. F L, HA l L 1,937,019

FORCE FEED MECHANICAL LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. 10., 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l F741. a i.

2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 iu M Nov. 28, 1933. 1.. HAMILL FORCE FEED MECHANICAL LUBRICATOR 1119a Oct. 10, 193;

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k A y 7 g a i? f/IIVW/A 'IIIIIIIIIIII/ Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,931,019 v roacn FEED mncnmcar. LUBRIGATOB Francis 1.. Hamill, Litchfleld, 001111., assignor to The Torrington Manufacturing Company, Torrlngton, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application October 10, 1931. Serial Nasser) Claims. (01. 184-227) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in force feed mechanical lubricator. An object of the invention is to provide a lubrlcator of the kind indicated and which in- 5 cludes a pump, means for adjusting the stroke of the pump, means providing for the handembodimentof the invention is shown. It is, of"

course, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall "within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the had for a definition of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section and showing a plurality of the improved lubricators mounted on a reservoir box I or the like; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the improved lubricators.

Referring indetail to the drawings,'at 5 is shown a reservoir box or the like adapted to con,- tain a lubricant, and in a side wall 6 of this box there is provided a stufling-box '1 through which extends a shaft Bdriven by any suitable means 9 from any suitable source of power,'not shown, such for example the prime mover to be lubricated. The upper side of the box 5 is open and surrounding the opening is a ledge 10 on which 6 may be disposed a cover 11, in the front wall 12 of the box 5 are upper and lower windows or sights 13 and 14 whereby the height of the lubricant in the reservoir may be readily ascertained. Ifdesired, a baflie 15 may be provided within the reservoir in spaced relation to the sights 13 and 14 and painted white to provide a light back ground to facilitate gauging the oil level in the a unit whereby the lubricator may be easily and v appended claims to which reference should be In Fig. 1 four of the improved force feed lubricators are shown as mounted on the reservoir box 5 although it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of lubricato'rs may be used on a single reservoir box. The lubricators are each independent of the other and arev each of the same or substantially the same construction and a detailed destruction of one will itis believed suifice for all. All of the parts of each lubricator are mounted on a supporting member or bar.16

whereby the lubricators may each be removed and replaced independent of one another. From this it. will be understood that each mounting member 16 has 'a complete lubricator assembled thereon and that the lubricators are not dependent on one another in their operation.

,Depending from or disposed at the under or lower side of the supporting member 16 is a barrel or casing or tube 17 the upper end portion of which projects through the member 16 and is externally screw threaded as at 18. A nut 19 disposed on the threads 18 is turned down to engage the upper surface of the member 16 whereby to clamp the casing 17 to the member 16. A suction tube 201depends from the lower end of the barrel 17 and ofcourse, communicates with the interior of the barrel.

Extending laterally from and communicating with the interior of the barrel 1'7 is a pump 21 comprising a cylinder 22, screw threaded into a wall of the barrel or casing 17, and a piston or plunger 23 operating in the pump cylinder 22. To the outer end of the plunger or piston 23 is threaded a head or nut 24, and surrounding the cylinder 22 andbearing at one end against this nut or head 24 is a coil spring 25. This'coil spring operates the plunger or piston on its return stroke.

Within the, barrel or casing 17. and above and below the point of communication between said barrel and the pump cylinder 22 are suitable ball check'valves 26 and 27 whereby on the stroke of the plunger 23 under the influence of the spring 25 lubricant is drawn into the barrel 17 through suction or v eating with the barrel or casing 17a sightfeed 28 including a glass 29 and a wire 30 along which the lubricant may travel. 4 contain water, glycerin or salt water, and the lubricant passing through the sightfeed enters The sight feed may a conduit 31 which may conduct the'lubricant to its point of application or use. This sight feed is not necessarily applied as .shown but may be located remote from the lubricator if preferred. For example it may be installed in the delivery line immediately at the point of application of lubricant to bearing or cylinder.

The pump plunger or piston 23 is given its delivery or power stroke by means of a cam or eccentric 32 on the shaft 8 and against which. the nut or head 24 may bear. However, the stroke of the pump plunger is adjustable or variable to vary the rate of feed of the lubricant as will later appear and it may be that on its return or suc tion stroke it will not remain in contact with the low portion of a cam or eccentric. As the eccentric is rotated its high portion will engage the nut or head 24 and force the plunger 23 inwardly of the cylinder against the action of the spring 25, operating the plunger on its delivery stroke, and as the high point of the cam or eccentric recedes the spring 25 starts the return or suction stroke of the plunger. v

Means are provided for varying the stroke of the plunger 23 and this means includes a bracket or hell crank 33 having an arm 34 and a bifurcated or pair of spaced downwardly extending arms 35. The arms 35 engage the head or nut 24 andv since these arms are somewhat spaced the cam or eccentric 32 operates between them. Bracket or bell crank 33 is pivotally mounted as on -a pin 36 supported by an eye 37 depending from the mounting member 16 and secured to the said mounting member as by a nut 38-threaded to the stem of the eye.

At its outer or free end the arm 34 of the bracket 33 may carry a lug or bumper 39 adapted to be engaged as and for a purpose to be described. Threaded through the member 16 in line with the outer portion'of the said arm 34 is an elongated cylindrical member 40 adaptedto be adjusted through the member 16 whereby to adjust the position of the bracket 33 on its pivot to thus limit the stroke of the pump plunger and determine the length of its stroke. Anut 41 is threaded on the member 40 so as to lock the same in adjusted position and to adjust the member downwardly so as to rock the bracket in a counter clock-wise direction or in a direction to move its arms 35' towards the pump cylinder it is but necessary to loosen the nut 42 and then turn the member 40. 1

As the member 40 is threaded through the supporting member 16 the arm 34 of the bracket' will of com'se be rocked downwardly and the arms 35 will be moved in a direction to force the plunger inwardly of the cylinder 22 against the action 01' the spring 25 and thus shorten its stroke by shortening its reverse movement under action of spring 25. The member 40 is then looked in adjusted position by means oi. the nut 41. With- :in the cylindrical member 40 is a plunger 42 I which carries a stem 43 extending outwardly of the member 40 and at its upper end carrying a push button 44. Obviously, by depressing the push button 44 the plunger 42 will be projected from the elongated member 40 to rock the bracket 35 about its pivot and cause it to operate the plunger '23 in the manner in which the plunger would be operated by the cam 32 were the cam turned.

I On the hand plunger, being released the spring 25 would of course operate to return the parts to normal position. However, to keep the lug 39 on the arm 34 of the bracket in constanten'gag'e- -ment with the plunger 42 irrespective of the location of the pump plunger or the spring .25, a

spring 45 is disposed on the pivot 36 and this,

spring has an arm 46 engaging the arm 34 of the bracket whereby the spring tends to rotate the in clock-wise direction thereby maintaining the lug 39 in constant engagement with the plunger. This prevents the plunger 42 and hand button 44 from moving up and down-with the reciprocating movements of the plunger during normal operation.

Since as the elongated cylindrical member 40 is adjusted through .the supporting member 16 the hand operation plunger 42 will necessarily move with the member 40 it will be obvious that the extent to which the member 40 is adjusted through the support will determine the extent of the clock-wisemovement of the bracket 33 and thus the extent of the return or suction of the pump plunger 23. It will further be apparentthat the means for adjusting the stroke of the pump plunger is mounted on the supporting member 16 as are the other parts of the improved force feed lubricator. Additionally, it is to be noted that the hand operation plunger 42 operates the pump plunger or piston through the bracket 33 whereby it is not necessary to provide additional mechanism for the hand operation.

It is believed that the construction. and operation of theforce feed mechanical lubricator of the present invention will now be fully understood. However, it is desired to point out that the entirelubricator is mounted and secured to the reservoir box 5 by means of two screws 47 one of which is passed through each end of the supporting member 16 and into the box 5. When a plurality of lubricators are used in connection with a single reservoir as shown in Fig. 1 it will be apparent that any lubricator may be removed from the reservoir without in any way interfering with the operating of the other lubricators .on the reservoir. I

When one of the lubricators is removed from a reservoir the screws 47 are simply loosened and the lubricator liited 011' without stopping or in any way disturbing the other lubricators. After repairs the removed lubricator may be remounted on the reservoir without disturbing the other lubricators which may be in operation. All parts are removed with the exception of the eccentric or cam and-the shaft and all parts are removed and applied as a unit. The unit could be placedon a machine tool, the manufacture of the machine tool locating the cam or eccentric on the machine. In other words the entire unit can be placed wherever desirable it being merely necessary to provide an oil reservoir and an operating means for the pump. With this arrangement the entire lubricator can be assembled andadjusted at any location desired and then placed in operation by merely mounting it on the reservoir.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a "force feed mechanical vlubricatnr, a removable unit comprising a mounting member, an outlet for lubricant on said member; a pump on said member including a plunger and adapted to pump lubricant through said outlet, means mounted on said member and movable therewith as a unit and adjustable while the unit is removed to shift the plunger to adjust the stroke of the member and adapted to pump voir, and all of said 2. In a force teed lubricator, a removable unit assembly comprising a mounting member, means for conducting lubricant to a place of use and connected with said member, a pump on said. lubricant through said conductor, said pump including a cylinder and a plunger and a spring means for moving said plunger in one direction relative to the cylinder, means mounted on the member and having a pair of arms one of which engages the outer end of the plunger, means adjustably mounted on the member and engaging the other arm of said means and adapted to be adjusted to adjust said means and thereby the stroke of the pump, a hand operation means also mounted on said member and engaging on of the arms of said means, and means to removably secure said member to a reservoir-to mount said unit assembly thereon.

3. In a force feed lubricator, a removable unit assembly comprising a pump including a piston and ,a cylinder and a spring means for operating the piston on its return stroke, means for adjusting the stroke of the piston, said means including a bracket having two arms one of which engages the outer end of the piston, means pivotally mounting said bracket, an externally threaded tubular member engaging the other arm of the bracket, said member threadedly adjustable to rock said bracket in one direction on its pivot to control the extent of the return movement of the piston under the influence of the spring means, a hand operation means for imparting the delivery stroke to the piston, and said hand operation means including a plunger operating through said tubular memberand en agin the said other arm of the bracket, a mounting member adapted to be removably mounted on the top or a reserelements andmeans being which is'b'ifui'cated and engages mounted on said member so as to be mounted on and removed irom the reservoir as a unit.

4. In a force feed lubrlcator, a pump including a piston and a cylinder anda spring means for operating the piston on its return stroke, means for adjusting the stroke ofmeans including a bracket having two arms one of which engages the outer end of the piston, means pivotallymounting said bracket, an externally threaded tubular member engaging the other arm of the bracket, said member threadedly adjustable to rock said bracket in one direction on its pivot tocontrol the extent of the return movement of the piston under the influence oi the spring means, a imparting the delivery stroke to the piston, said hand operation means including a plunger 'ophand operation means for' the piston, said erating thorugh said tubular member and engaging the saidother arm of the bracket, and a spring means engaging the bracket and operating to maintain the bracket positioned with its said other arm in engagement with the handplunger irrespective of the position of the piston.

5. In a force feed lubricator, a pump including a piston and a, cylinder and a spring for operating the piston on its return stroke, means for adjusting the stroke of the piston, said means including a bracket having a pair of arms one of the outer end of the piston,-- a cam adapted to engage the outer end of the piston between the parts of the bifurcated arm to impartthe delivery stroke to the piston,v means pivotally mounting said bracket, means engaging the other'arm of the bracket, and said last means adjustable to rock said bracket on its pivot to adjust the position thereof and thereby adjust the return stroke of the piston under the influence of the spring.

- FRANCIS L. HAMILL. 

